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I draw a large breath and sink into a chair. The world stops spinning as I study the photos. One of them huddled in the ornate lobby, another at a table in the swanky bar. There’s a photo of Antonio with his arm slung around her shoulders as they leave the hotel. They’re happy. Smiling. Sharing a private joke, maybe.
Is that what post-coital bliss looks like?
There’s a photo of them saying goodbye. She presses a kiss to each of his cheeks before he helps her into the back of a car. There are eight photos in total. I’ve counted them twice. But each time nothing changes, not the number of images or the stark betrayal.
My stomach churns, driving bitter bile into my throat.
“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Lara assures me.
I hear the pity in her voice, and it makes me furious. Not at her, but atthem. At him.
It’s nothing?Really? Because it looks like something to me.
The events of a week ago come careening back. Sex in the tasting room.The trust that allowed us to explore. His tenderness in the shower.It doesn’t matter how intimate we are or how good the sex is—it’ll never be enough.
He wants what he wants—and Antonio wants everything. Men like him always do. Or maybe it’s just his way of sabotaging our marriage.Congratulations, Antonio. There’s no better way to push me into the periphery of your life.
“Daniela?”
I’m a heartbeat away from spewing everything I’m thinking and feeling all over this room and making a huge scene. But I’m not going to do that. I don’t feel close enough to Lara to let her see my pain. My embarrassment. If a new bride can’t keep her husband satisfied, what does that say about the future?
I set the photos aside with a shaky hand. “I’m sure you’re right. You know how the media is always hounding Antonio, hoping for something juicy to print.” I plaster on a smile, but my heart is weeping. “I’ll speak with him about it later. Let’s finish going through the mail. We’re almost done.”
Lara seems somewhat surprised, as she takes my measure carefully. “Are you sure?”
No, I’m not sure, but I want some time to think. “Absolutely.”
We finish triaging the mail in silence. When we’re done, Lara gathers the piles we created, and reaches for the damning photos.
“Leave those.” I smile sweetly at her, because now I have a plan.
43
DANIELA
After she’s gone, I call Victor. Valentina doesn’t need a babysitter, but she’s never been here without me. I’m sure Lara would keep an eye on her, or Paula, even. But there’s no one I trust more than Victor.
“I have a small surprise for Antonio,” I explain. “I’d like to deliver it myself. Valentina’s with the horses, but I’ll leave her a note. Would you mind keeping an eye out for her until I get back? She has reading to catch up on, so she shouldn’t be a bother. I’ll only be gone a couple of hours.”
“I’d be delighted. Valentina’s never a bother. I have some pastries to fill. Maybe she’d like to help.”
My insides are quivering, but fortunately Victor’s too caught up in entertaining Valentina to notice.
“I’m sure she’d love to help you in the kitchen.”
After we hang up, I go to the closet and pull out a classy dress in a warm white shade—and add a piece of my mother’s jewelry and a pair of leopard print heels. But first, I slip on a gorgeous red bra and panty set—for me—to remind myself I’m sexy and desirable.
When I’m satisfied with my appearance, I leave Valentina a note, and call for a ride. This will be my first hurdle, but I’ll be damned if Alvarez is going to stop me.
“I’m going to Huntsman Lodge. I have a surprise for Antonio.”
“Is he expecting you?” He’s polite, but his tone is tight. I like Alvarez, but he’s a member of the old boys’ club, and he prefers when women ask his permission to come and go.
“It wouldn’t be much of a surprise if he was expecting me.”
He might be my guard, but he’s Antonio’s man, and I’ve put him in an uncomfortable position.You can’t worry about it now.If Antonio had kept his dick in his pants, no one would be uncomfortable.
“If you’re too busy to take me, I’ll call an Uber.”
